If you have palm trees on your property, it’s important that you fertilize them correctly. All plants and trees need some sort of fertilizer, including palm trees. But there are a lot of options out there on the market, so how do you know which fertilizer to choose?
Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about finding the best fertilizer for palm trees, because we have looked into it for you. Instead of spending the time researching or spending money on fertilizer that doesn’t work, try looking at this list of fertilizers for palm trees instead.
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What is the Best Fertilizer for Palm Trees?
Depending on the type of palm you have, most of them get pretty large, and you definitely want to make sure you are choosing something that will help your palm trees grow as strong and as beautiful as possible.
Before we can talk about the best fertilizer for palm trees, it’s always a good idea to take a look at what it actually means to properly fertilize a plant. With a palm tree, you have to consider where they typically grow.
Most palm trees grow in areas where the soil is sandy. Even if you don’t live right on a sandy beach, there is a good probability that if you have palm trees growing on your property you also have sandy soil.
The problem with sandy soil is that it doesn’t hold nutrients well, and if the palm trees don’t get the right nutrients, they will fail to thrive.
All plants require three different nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). All of these nutrients offer something to the plant, including palm trees.
Nitrogen is important because it helps the plant to grow. It’s extremely important, in fact, when a plant is first planted or when it’s in a seed stage. For a palm tree, which has a slow, yet steady growth, it needs a pretty consistent flow of nitrogen into the plant.
If your palm tree is lacking nitrogen, you will likely see the leaves of the palm tree turning yellow.
Phosphorus is also very important for palm trees. This element helps the palm tree grow, as well as helps it to reproduce and create fruit. If the palm tree doesn’t get enough phosphorus, it can produce less fruit, and you might see stunted growth.
Finally, we have potassium. This affects the size, shape, color, and again the overall growth of the palm tree. If the palm isn’t getting enough potassium, it negatively affects the growth of roots and the leaves will begin to look yellow or brown, like they are burned or scorched.
All of these elements are found in a good fertilizer for palm trees, and specifically, you should choose a fertilizer that is specifically made for palm trees.
Why? Because you don’t want to over-fertilize, and fertilizer for evergreens, even though an evergreen and a palm are both trees, have different nutrient needs.
The 6 Best Fertilizers for Your Palm Trees
We have taken some time and looked at the best palm tree fertilizer on the market. You may see some familiar brands here, and all of them are available to purchase online. So, without further ado, here are the best fertilizers for palm trees:
| Pictures | Palm Tree Fertilizers | NPK Fertilizer Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 | Jobe's 100046747 Outdoor Palm Tree Time Release Fertilizer | 10-5-10 |
 | Jobe's 05101 Fern & Palm Fertilizer Spikes | 16-2-6 |
 | Miracle-Gro Palm Tree Food | 8-4-8 |
 | Jobe’s Organics 09126 Palm Tree Granular Plant Food | 4-2-4 |
 | PALMGAIN Palm Tree Fertilizer | 8-2-12 |
 | JR Peters 51624 Jack's Classic Palm Food | 16-5-25 |
Best Palm Tree Fertilizer Reviews
1. Jobe’s 100046747 Outdoor Palm Tree Time Release Fertilizer
Jobe’s is a well-known brand in the world of fertilizer, and this is only the first of three Jobe’s fertilizers for palms on our list.
This particular option is a time-release option, which means that after it is applied to the palm, it continuously supplies the nutrients over time. In this case, about six months.
You can apply this fertilizer twice a year, and in fact, you don’t even have to really apply it. Instead, this comes in a spike form, which means you stick the spikes into the ground. There is no mess or scent to this fertilizer, and you don’t have to worry about run-off.
To use the spikes, you simply stick them directly into the soil around the palm tree where the roots are actively growing. Since you only do it twice a year, it’s really a convenient way to fertilize.
There are five spikes per package, and this option is specific for outdoor palms, not those you may have potted in your home.
2. Jobe’s 05101 Fern & Palm Fertilizer Spikes
The second option from Jobe’s on our list is the smaller palm tree fertilizer spikes. These spikes are ideal for indoor palms that are grown in containers, but you can also add them to your outdoor palm tree fertilizing regiment.
Like the other option from Jobe’s, these spikes offer a continuous supply of nutrients directly to the roots, right where the plants need the fertilizer the most.
These spikes are easy to use. All you have to do is insert the spikes into the soil where your palm tree is growing. They are pre-measured, and you don’t have to worry about any type of mess, spills, or odors. These spikes will also not wash away during heavy rain or watering.
Each package comes with 30 spikes, and you need to replace them every two months if you want a continuous feed for your plant. In most cases, you will use two to four spikes per plant, and you can also break the spikes in half if you have a smaller palm that requires nutrients.
3. Miracle-Gro Palm Tree Food
If you are looking for a more traditional fertilizer that you put right only the soil of the plant, this option from Miracle-Gro is probably perfect for you.
Each bag contains a total of about 15 feedings, and you should be feeding your palms about every six weeks if you choose this Palm Tree Food from Miracle-Gro. It helps your palm tree grow faster when compared to those that are not fertilized, and the foliage is brighter, too.
This particular fertilizer is a slow-release option, too, and when used as directed, it will help to eliminate any risk of burning or overfeeding.
It contains nitrogen, which is slow-release, and additionally contains iron, manganese, and magnesium, which helps to keep the fronds of the palm straight and bright green instead of curly and yellow.
To use this fertilizer, you should apply the Miracle-Gro Palm Tree food directly to the soil within the range of the fronds. Once you have applied the fertilizer onto the soil, you then should work it into the top couple of inches of soil.
4. Jobe’s Organics 09126 Palm Tree Granular Plant Food
Our third option from Jobe’s in regard to palm tree fertilizer is this option. Unlike the other two Jobe’s fertilizers on this list, this particular option is a granular food, which you work into the soil like the Miracle-Gro shown above.
You can use this fertilizer on both indoor and outdoor palm trees. It is an organic fertilizer that is applied every two to three months. Each bag is four pounds each and depending on how many palms you have, it could certainly last throughout the year.
Like the Miracle-Gro fertilizer for palms above, you can apply this granular plant food directly onto the soil and then work it in with a shove. You should simply sprinkle the fertilizer around the palm tree, making sure not to go past where the canopy of the tree spreads.
This is a certified organic option, too, if that’s important to you, and it is safe to use around pets and children.
5. PALMGAIN Palm Tree Fertilizer
Another option you have if you are looking for a granular fertilizer is this option from PALMGAIN. This fertilizer was actually recommended by the University of Florida, and the famed university recommends this formula to anyone who has palm trees.
This formula is the full package. Not only does it have appropriate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but it also contains iron, sulfur, and magnesium, all of which are great for palm trees.
Like the other formulas we have mentioned here, this granular fertilizer is worked directly into the soil, and each application can last up to six weeks, but if you get a lot of rain, you should fertilize every four weeks, instead.
Remember, in most areas where palm trees grow outdoors, the soil is sandy, so it’s easy for it to lose nutrients in rainy conditions.
6. JR Peters 51624 Jack’s Classic Palm Food
Jack’s Classic Palm Food is the last of the best fertilizer for palm trees on our list. One thing that really makes this option stand out is that it is actually formulated for specific types of palm trees. The others on the list were more of general options.
This is a wonderful option for people who have indoor, potted palms, and it is highly rated by those who have used it. The formula is water-soluble, and it is ideal for those who are looking for a fertilizer that is higher in potassium than other palm fertilizers on the list.
This, again, really helps to produce lush, green foliage, which is really what we all want from our palms. Each bucket of Jack’s Classic is 1.5 pounds, and it comes with a free measuring scoop and full directions based on the size of your palm.
When Should You Fertilize a Palm Tree?
Now that we have taken a look at the best fertilizer for palm trees, you may have some questions. Here, we are going to help you answer them.
The first question that people often think of is wondering when is the best time to apply fertilizer to your palm tree. Well, it depends on where you live and where the palm tree is growing.
For outdoor palm trees, most of them are going to grow in areas that do not drop below freezing. If this is the scenario where you live, you want to fertilize three to four times a year.
Since conditions are good for growing all the time, you want to give your palm trees a continuous supply of food. However, if you are using a slow-release fertilizer, this might be different, so make sure to read the directions before you start applying it willy-nilly.
If you are in an area where the weather might get a bit cooler, you generally want to apply the fertilizer two times a year; once at the end of March and once at the end of October.
If you really live in a cool area where you get frost, you should also fertilize your palm trees twice a year. The first time of the year should be when all the frost chances have passed. Typically, this will be in the spring.
The second time you should fertilize isn’t in the fall, however. Instead, you should make sure to fertilize in the early or mid-summer. Also, make sure that you are not fertilizing within two months of the average first frost in the area.
How Much Fertilizer Does a Palm Tree Need?
Now, let’s talk about how much fertilizer your palm tree or trees might need. When you use a palm tree fertilizer, it’s fairly easy to measure out how much you need by taking a look at the canopy of your tree.
The canopy, of course, is the area that is covered by the leaves, or fronds, of the palm tree. Basically, if you stand next to your palm tree and look up, you will see the crown of the palm, which is made of fronds and branches.
Anything under that area is covered by the canopy, which is made up of all of those leaves/fronds and branches. So, if the sun was shining directly above, the shaded area would be what you want to measure.
Stand under your tree and walk out to the furthest area where the leaves extend. From there, you should draw an imaginary circle or square around the tree, following that extension.
This imaginary line is known as the “drip line.” It’s called that because it represents how far out from the trunk water will drip from the leaves of the palm tree. Measure this area, and then apply that measurement to the fertilizer you have chosen.
A good average amount is around 1.5 pounds of fertilizer per every 100 square feet of canopy space. Again, however, this will depend on the type of fertilizer you choose. This is, in most cases, for granular palm tree fertilizer.
How do you measure? If you have a palm tree that has a canopy creating a 10 foot by 10-foot area, then you would have 100 square feet of area that the palm would reach. This is the area you want to fertilize, and you would need approximately 1.5 pounds of fertilizer for that area.
How to Fertilize a Palm Tree
Now, let’s talk about how to fertilize a palm tree. Remember, these are often found in sandy soil, and these soils tend to drain nutrients out much quicker than other types of soil. So, if you are used to watering in your fertilizer, you are going to have to use a slightly different method.
If you try to water in fertilizer for a palm tree, it will be no time at all that it will simply wash away. If it washes away too quickly, the palm tree won’t have time to absorb the nutrients. This is why many of the formulas above are “slow-release” fertilizer. This way, it won’t wash away.
As you can probably tell, palm tree fertilizer is generally a spike that you place into the ground around the roots of the tree or sold as granules. There are also brands out there that come in a pellet shape.
It doesn’t matter what type you choose, a good palm tree fertilizer should be slow-release, so you essentially put it into place, and then forget it for several weeks, or even months, depending on what type of fertilizer you choose.
Once the fertilizer is in place, the fertilizer is delivered to the roots of the palm over a set period of time.
Because of the sandy soil in many places where palm trees grow, you have to remember that the spikes you can choose may wash away more quickly or become empty faster than they should.
If this is the case, you need to make sure that you are adding more spikes or add them more often.
The spikes are generally great because they are pre-measured, and the fertilizer will come out right where it is supposed to. Granular fertilizer is a little different.
To apply this type of fertilizer, you should apply it to the soil right above where the roots are. Again, depending on the manufacturer, this should be done a specific number of times each year.
For instance, you may see a slow-release fertilizer that says, “Feeds for three months,” or you might see one that says, “Feeds for six months.” So, make sure you take a look at the directions of your chosen fertilizer and schedule yourself a reminder for when it is time again.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Palm Tree?
We have already talked a bit about this, but before we wrap this up, it’s really important to understand how often you should fertilize a palm tree. It is much better to under-fertilize than over-fertilize. So, if you are doubting it, skip a fertilization instead of giving it too much.
Keep in mind that all of this is simply general information, and it is in your best interest to pay very close attention to the directions that appear on the package of the palm tree fertilizer that you have chosen.
The general rule is to fertilize a couple of times a year, but again, it really depends on the brand and type of fertilizer you choose.
Conclusion
Now that you know everything there is to know about palm tree fertilizer, we want to talk about which one is really the best palm tree fertilizer for you.
Here, we discussed the top 6 options in regard to the best palm tree fertilizer. We discussed four different brands, and options including granular fertilizers and fertilizer spikes, which are placed directly into the ground.
Out of all of these, we feel that one of them really stand out from the crowd — the PALMGAIN fertilizer for palms.
This option really has everything you want in a palm tree fertilizer including a slow-release formula and the addition of sulfur, iron, and magnesium.
However, remember, this is formulated for only specific types of palm trees, so if you have something other than those options, you should consider another option.
We believe this other option should be the Palm Tree Food from Miracle-Gro. This, of course, is a brand you can trust, and it is highly rated by those who have palm trees. It can feed up to six weeks before you need to reapply, and it has up to 15 feedings in each bag.
Making sure you fertilize your palm trees is an important task, and really, you can’t go wrong with any of these. Remember to always read the directions on these packages, and you will be thrilled by how great your palm trees can look.
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